Midtown

[warreng88]

Doug,

Looks like it was purchased by Hollis Properties Inc in 1999 for $240,000. Each floor is 4,741 square feet. I would guess that would make for 10-12 rooms per floor with 400 square feet each. Average rental price per square foot in Oklahoma is about $0.75 which would come out to $300 a month. Times 30 apartments would be $9,000 a month. Of course, more could be made depending on renovation.

Here is the county assessor's site:

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assess...TNO=R012085300

[dankrutka]

this is the last week of midtown deli .. i would expect renovations (Louie's needs a kitchen) to start soon

Thanks for the info. This will be an improvement. I hope they get Louie's opened soon...

[BBatesokc]

Looks like it was purchased by Hollis Properties Inc in 1999 for $240,000.

That would be OKC criminal defense attorney William Hollis. His office is/was just West of that location (old single story home).

[EBAH]

I think this is actually very good news. I liked the Mid Town Deli, it had pretty god fod and a very nice bar. But, it did not seem to be very well run (no offense intended to anyone who ran it). Louie's coming in means a long term investment by an established brand, and shows that another major local brand (the other major one being McNellies) sees this neighborhood as having a solid long term prospect for both daytime and night life business. Louie's does have experience in successfully running a popular daytime business that can be a functional bar in to the late night hours. I think a lot of the surrounding restaurants could benefit greatly from their higher profile, professional marketing, and management strategies. I had a drink at Stella's the other night with a friend who lives in the area and we discussed this topic at length. The group of businesses at the core of midtown could be wonderful for bar hopping at night, and all have a potential for being as noteworthy as bars at night as they are for food by day. I think Louie's will be able to set a good example to the others for how that is achieved. All of those businesses have that potential and I think a corporate operation like Louie's might provide the perfect bit of competition and draw to elevate them all. I do, however, agree that Louie's is pretty crapy, but they do seem to know what they are doing.

[dankrutka]

I agree 100%.

[BBatesokc]

I feel for the MidTown Deli owners. I heard they invested everything they had into it. The problem seemed to be they had to make all their money at lunch and that just wasn't doable. They were open for dinner, but it seemed like an after thought. I personally do not like Louie's but will probably try it for lunch since I am often in the area.

[onthestrip]

I do, however, agree that Louie's is pretty crapy, but they do seem to know what they are doing.

I agree. Their food is so so but I think in the end this is a good thing for midtown. People know Louies and it will probably bring more people and new people to Midtwon. Now if we can just get more housing going.

[EBAH]

I feel for the MidTown Deli owners. I heard they invested everything they had into it. The problem seemed to be they had to make all their money at lunch and that just wasn't doable. They were open for dinner, but it seemed like an after thought. I personally do not like Louie's but will probably try it for lunch since I am often in the area.

Oh me too, I am always sad to see a local business fail.

[dankrutka]

I feel for the MidTown Deli owners. I heard they invested everything they had into it. The problem seemed to be they had to make all their money at lunch and that just wasn't doable. They were open for dinner, but it seemed like an after thought. I personally do not like Louie's but will probably try it for lunch since I am often in the area.

I am all about local businesses, but I tried it a couple times and it was horribly run. They had a great structure and a good concept and they completely failed in the execution. I would feel bad if they didn't run it into the ground themselves. Sorry, but they could have succeeded in that location with that building by just being average, but they were well below average in many areas.

[BBatesokc]

I would say in many ways their business was acceptable - as evident by the large lunch crowd they usually had. I can recall 4-5 times going at lunch and having to wait for a table. I just didn't see enough variety in their menu and dinner was truly a disaster.

[Spartan]

Oh me too, I am always sad to see a local business fail.

And get replaced by non-local businesses (yes, Louie's is Oklahoma-based, but it's as chain as it gets now).

[Steve]

Spartan.... HUH? Louie's is local. It's a local chain. It's as locally owned as MidTown Deli was. It's just a bigger company.

[Spartan]

... and coming to a strip mall near you.

I liked Midtown Deli. They had pizzas and sandwiches that were unique. I had a usual that I ordered there, too.

[Steve]

Yes, I liked MidTown Deli as well. I think what you're getting at is a question of small mom and pop restaurant vs. a corporate restaurant, rather than a question of local.
Consider the upside of having frequent television commercials directing people to a Louie's in MidTown - it brings the neighborhood more exposure.

[Spartan]

Oh, there's no doubt, Steve. It's a great deal for Midtown.

[MIKELS129]

I agree. Their food is so so but I think in the end this is a good thing for midtown. People know Louies and it will probably bring more people and new people to Midtwon. Now if we can just get more housing going.

I am not sure that these type of venues are good for housing development. It's turning into a bar strip and that does not bode well for housing.

[ljbab728]

I am not sure that these type of venues are good for housing development. It's turning into a bar strip and that does not bode well for housing.

That depends on the demographics. Younger urban type residents really like being able to walk to areas like that from their homes. Just watch any number of the shows about people looking for housing on HGTV. That is mentioned often as being attractive.

[soonerguru]

Spartan.... HUH? Louie's is local. It's a local chain. It's as locally owned as MidTown Deli was. It's just a bigger company.

True, but it is a chain. Louie's is found in strip centers in Yukon. To call it unremarkable would be tantamount to unwarranted praise. The food is actually quite terrible.

[ljbab728]

True, but it is a chain. Louie's is found in strip centers in Yukon. To call it unremarkable would be tantamount to unwarranted praise. The food is actually quite terrible.

So do you think only a single location locally owned business is acceptible and having a location in a shopping center is a sin? The quality of the food is your opinion, soonerguru, and not a consensus. There are better places to eat but I actually think the pizza is quite good.

[metro]

Didn't we already have this discussion a few weeks ago?

[Rover]

Why is it that we seem to want local owners and want them to succeed, but I guess we don't want them to be TOO successful. Louies is a successful local business. And when local restaurant owners are successful they tend to invest in other concepts, usually as a single local restaurant. Go to Wichita sometime and you will find all kinds of really good restaurants, most started by people associated with Pizza Hut when they were there. When local companies like Louies does well the managers, etc. learn how to run a successful business and start things like Mid-Town Deli, but know more how to make it successful since they learned in a success oriented environment. Local concerns like Louie's are usually actually great for the development of the kinds of concepts you all want.

[dankrutka]

I am not sure that these type of venues are good for housing development. It's turning into a bar strip and that does not bode well for housing.

Younger people (20s, 30s) will likely want a "bar strip" in the neighborhood. Personally, I love that I live close enough to McNellie's to walk and I am excited that Louie's will be close by now also...

[BBatesokc]

Younger people (20s, 30s) will likely want a "bar strip" in the neighborhood. Personally, I love that I live close enough to McNellie's to walk and I am excited that Louie's will be close by now also...

I agree, these types of places are more likely to attract 'regulars' from the surrounding neighborhood than say another upscale restaurant like Stella's. I like a neighborhood with a local tavern type pub house for just getting out and being social.

[TStheThird]

I am not the biggest fan of Louie's, but I will probably walk over there to watch different sporting events. It will fill a nice little niche in my life.

[kevinpate]

Didn't we already have this discussion a few weeks ago?

Don't think so. Cause if we did, you probably woulda provided us the link as our Christmas pressie.
8^)

Of course, I could be mistaken. It happens sometimes and my memory spots resemble a colander.